Question : CATERING SERVICE IN TRAINS

(a) the criteria adopted by the railways to dispose of complaints regarding catering services in trains;

(b) the number of complaints received by the Railway Vigilance Department during the last three years, zone-wise;

(c) the number of cases in which action has been taken as recommended by the Vigilance Department by the Zonal railways during the said period;

(d) whether the railways have formulated a policy that new contracts will not be awarded and existing contract could also be scrapped to those catering firms against whom more than five complaints have been lodged; and

(e) if so, the names of the firms whose contract has been scrapped so far and which have been black listed and disqualified during the said period?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS ( SHRI O. RAJAGOPAL )

(a) Whenever complaints are received, investigations are conducted by the zonal railways and in case the allegations are substantiated the departmental action is initiated against staff in case of departmental catering and fines imposed or licence/supply discontinued in case of private licensees/suppliers.

(b) and (c) Details of complaints received by the Railway Vigilance and the number of cases in which action has been taken on the recommendations of the Vigilance Department during the last three years, zone-wise is given in the Appendix.

(d) No, Sir.

(e) Catering contracts are awarded by the Zonal Railways after following prescribed procedure and guidelines. Among the other eligibility criteria, the past experience and professional ability of the applicants are taken into consideration. At the time of renewal of the existing licences, past performance including any complaint of a serious nature is examined by the Screening Committee.


In case of any serious irregularity even the existing licence can be terminated. One catering/vending licence was disqualified and one contractor was terminated by the zonal railways during this period.

APPENDIX


Appendix as referred in part (b) and (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1678 to be answered in the Lok Sabha on 02.08.2001.

No. of No. cases in	Railway	complaints which action has	received by been taken as	the Railway recommended by	Vigilance the Vigilance	during the during the last	last three three years	years
1. Central 4 4

2. Eastern 1 under enquiry

3. Northern 6 6

4. North Eastern Nil Nil

5. N.F. Nil Nil
6. Southern 17 1

7 South Central Nil Nil

8. South Eastern 2 1

9. Western 13 13